Cosmopolitan cities, vast unspoiled territory and recreational opportunities abound north of the border. Canada welcomes U.S. citizens into the country for tourism, work and study. Make the right travel arrangements to coincide with the purpose of your trip.

Crossing Into Canada

You'll need your U.S. passport to travel into Canada by air. Since the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect in 2009, you can cross into Canada by land or water with any approved travel document. These include a U.S. passport or a less expensive passport card that is good for land or sea crossings. Washington, Michigan, New York and Vermont also issue enhanced driver's licenses designed for easy crossing into Canada by land or water. Children under 16 can use a birth certificate for cross-border travel under the initiative.

Tourist Visa

U.S. citizens crossing into Canada as tourists can stay in the country for 180 days without a visa. A few special cases can hamper this trouble-free tourist trip. If you have any criminal record, even for misdemeanors, you'll need to obtain a rehabilitation approval in advance. Canadian border authorities also require a notarized affidavit for people traveling with minors if the adult does not have full legal custody. All boaters have to register their vessels with the Canada Border Services Agency after arriving in the country.

Visa Extension

The date you need to leave Canada will be recorded by border authorities when you enter the country. If you want to stay longer than 180 days as a tourist, you have to apply for an extension at least 30 days before you're required to leave Canada. If your application wait time extends beyond your visa expiration, you'll be considered a temporary resident until a decision is made on the extension. You can apply for this extension online, which cuts down on the processing time; the fee is $75 as of July 2013. Online applications require scanned or photographed copies of your travel documents, and the fee must be paid by credit card.

Special Visas

To enter Canada for work or study, these type of visas are required in most cases; apply for one before leaving the U.S. If you come into Canada as a tourist, you can always apply for a change of visa status to work or study while you're in the country. If you're in the country on a single-entry special visa and want permission to come back in the near future, you can apply for this before you leave. If you're a valid visitor to Canada and want to become a permanent resident, you have to leave the country and apply -- save for a handful of exceptions, including spouses of Canadian citizens and holders of temporary residence permits.